Carnival will go ahead, but with earlier finish time

Go-ahead: The Notting Hill Carnival will take place this year
12 April 2012

The Notting Hill Carnival has been given the go-ahead by the Met, organisers said today.

Carnival chiefs met police today and gave their assurances that the event will start and end earlier in a bid to avoid any scenes of violence.
This year's carnival had been in doubt after last week's riots.

The Caribbean street celebration has been marred by violence in the past and there were concerns that it could spark trouble in the wake of the worst disorder to hit London in living memory.

Organisers have said the parade of floats, on Sunday 28 August and Bank Holiday Monday, will now finish by 6.30pm and the static sound systems will be taken down by 7pm.

The aim is to finish early so that crowds have dispersed by the time it gets dark, which police believe is when trouble is most likely to occur.
There will also be more officers policing the carnival than in previous years, as well as increased police numbers throughout the capital.

There had been suggestions that Notting Hill residents wanted the carnival, which attracts crowds of up to a million, called off because of the riots.

Earlier this week, the Met's acting commissioner Tim Godwin said: "I want it to go ahead."
Christopher Boothman, co-director of London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd said today: "Trouble-makers or those who seek to cast a shadow over this vibrant event are not welcome and shouldn't be allowed to spoil it for thousands of others. We want everyone to come early, enjoy Carnival and get home safely."

A spokesman added: "After the recent disturbances in London, concerns about the safety of the event were expressed by residents of Notting Hill, the business community and those involved in producing carnival bands.

"The carnival will therefore start at 9am and conclude by 7pm."

A Met spokesman said: "We totally encourage the earlier start and finish times of the event this year, given what has recently happened in London.

"The Notting Hill Carnival is an important event in the capital's calendar, and we support it going ahead. Trouble-makers are not welcome.

"Police and stewards will work together to keep the event as safe and trouble-free as possible."

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